Otago providers of the Government-funded foundation-focused training opportunities (FFTO) programme are united in their plea for support.
They have outlined their concerns about the Government's decision to scrap the programme in a document sent to Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull and MPs Michael Woodhouse, Clare Curran, David Clark and Metiria Turei.
All but one of the six providers operated in Dunedin, supplying subsidised education to beneficiaries and others deemed most likely to need long-term welfare support.
Providers were worried the cessation of FFTO funding had come at short notice and would leave them cash-strapped until replacement programme funding arrived.
They claimed the loss of FFTO funding was a loss of $1.5 million for Dunedin, which would mean people would lose jobs and others would be left without training.
That concern has been echoed by Mr Cull and Dr Clark.
But the Government was adamant replacement courses would have more people, including those in Dunedin, appropriately educated for work. Mr Woodhouse backed that sentiment.
In their plea to the mayor and MPs, providers requested an assurance from the Government that the Otago region would continue to receive funding.
They also wanted consideration of the ''unintended consequences'' of the decision to stop the FFTO programme, which had been in place for about two years.
Providers asked for an extension of funding so students who had started six-month courses could finish them, and so providers had time to apply for replacement funding.
Mr Woodhouse said he was confident the FFTO programme would be replaced with something better, enabling more people to gain employment.
''Everybody should be focused on what programmes are being funded and how the providers in this city can create programmes that are going to work for our unemployed and under-trained, which is ultimately what we're all wanting to achieve.
"If FFTO isn't achieving that, it's quite appropriate for the Government to take its funds to programmes that are working,'' he said.
Mr Woodhouse sent the providers' request to Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce for consideration.
Dr Clark said he was pleased the Government was at least considering the concerns of Otago providers and the impacts of its decision to end the FFTO programme.
''Time will tell whether it [the Government] is willing to show good faith to the trusted local providers.''
He said the real problem was a lack of jobs for foundation training graduates, regardless of which specific courses were available.
A spokesman for Mr Joyce said the changes were about ensuring there were more effective education and training programmes to help beneficiaries and young people get into work.
Government-funded places in those programmes would be determined by regional demand, he said.
''We are not expecting big fluctuations in the amount of total provision in each region through these changes, because the number of people on benefits is not suddenly increasing or decreasing in each region.''
The Ministry of Social Development and the Tertiary Education Commission were working with providers in all regions, including Otago, to manage the transition from FFTO to other programmes starting next year, the spokesman said.
